Chapter Nineteen: The Divine Healer Hua

Although he had some manuscripts in reserve, Gou Ye dared not slacken in the slightest. To realize his dream as soon as possible, burning the midnight oil had become a habit. He glanced at his money box—after expenses, in less than half a month he had already earned three hundred and seventy-nine taels of silver. At this rate, once the next payment for his manuscripts arrived, he could start preparing to open his business. But how could he make sure the whole county heard of him? Gazing at the stack of manuscripts beside him, inspiration began to stir.

Once again, he drifted off at his desk without realizing it. Still lost in a pleasant dream, Gou Ye was suddenly shaken awake, “Brother Gou Ye! Wake up, please! Brother Gou Ye, wake up!”

Seeing Yun Niang’s tearful, anxious face, Gou Ye quickly shook his head to clear it and asked, “Don’t worry, Yun Niang. Tell me slowly, what’s happened?”

Between soft sobs, Yun Niang replied, “Last night, Mother coughed the whole night through. She’s a little better this morning, but I’m so worried. Brother Gou Ye, could you go to the county and fetch a physician? I don’t feel safe leaving Mother alone at home.”

Hearing this, Gou Ye felt a wave of unease, though he dared not show it. After comforting Yun Niang, he hurried out, hired an ox cart, and set off for the county. Throughout the journey, his heart was filled with anxiety. Auntie had always treated him with the deepest kindness, no different from a mother. Now that Yun Niang’s mother was ill, Gou Ye was naturally beside himself with worry.

As the saying goes, panic is no cure for illness. Taking a steadying breath, Gou Ye forced himself to remain calm, not letting his anxiety cloud his judgment. He cleared his thoughts and, instead of heading straight to the pharmacy, made his way to the Duke of Jing’s residence.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Gou Ye knocked at the gate. The steward answered; having met Gou Ye before, he recognized him as a friend of Young Master Gu Shen. His manner changed immediately, “Young Master, you’re here to see Master Gu?”

“Yes, please go in quickly and let him know I’m here on urgent business,” Gou Ye replied.

“Of course, Young Master, please wait a moment—I’ll be right back.”

The steward returned, “Young Master, I’m afraid you’ve come at a bad time. Master Gu isn’t in the residence—he went out on patrol last night and hasn’t returned. But the Duke knows you’re here on urgent business and asks that you come inside.”

Gou Ye found the steward’s wordiness a bit much, but he didn’t dwell on it and hurried inside.

Gu Yuan sat in the main hall, a teacup in hand, savoring his drink. When he saw Gou Ye walk in, his face fraught with worry, he dispensed with any pretense and asked in a grave tone, “I hear from the steward that you urgently seek Shen’er. May I ask what the matter is? Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

With the Duke of Jing’s help, there could be no better outcome. Gou Ye’s face lit up with relief as he replied, “The lady you saw with me that day, my dearest friend Yun Niang’s mother, has taken ill. I dared not hastily seek out just any doctor, so I’ve come to ask Master Gu Shen for help in finding a skilled physician to visit our village and examine Auntie.”

Gu Yuan nodded and called, “Quickly, go and fetch Master Hua.”

Master Hua? Could it be Hua Tuo? Perhaps not, but since he shared the surname and was summoned by the Duke himself, his medical skills should be more than adequate. As Gou Ye pondered this, an elderly man in a plain white robe entered, old but spry, looking for all the world like the famous physician Hua Tuo from television.

Gou Ye was thoroughly satisfied. He thanked the Duke of Jing and hurried back to the village with Physician Hua. On the way, Gou Ye couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask, sir, what is your full name?”

The old man replied, “Young Master, my name is Hua, given name Yong.”

Gou Ye continued, “Are you by any chance related to the famed doctor Hua Tuo?”

“Hua Tuo? I’ve never heard of him, nor am I related in any way.” Gou Ye pursed his lips in slight disappointment, thinking that perhaps this world was different from his own. It seemed that Hua Tuo did not exist here—otherwise, how could a physician not know his name? And even if he did, perhaps he’d be called Zhang Tuo or Li Tuo instead.

Gou Ye spoke little more to Physician Hua during the journey. For the first time, he found the ox cart unbearably slow, pulling back the curtain again and again to glance anxiously outside.

When Gou Ye finally brought Physician Hua into Yun Niang’s home, he saw that her mother had changed greatly since yesterday. She sat propped against the wall, looking haggard and wan. Yun Niang had just finished preparing hot porridge, and when she saw Gou Ye return, a smile broke through her worry.

There was no time for pleasantries—Gou Ye went straight to the point, introduced Physician Hua, and had him examine Yun Niang’s mother. Both Gou Ye and Yun Niang stood silently by, watching the physician’s expression, hoping for some clue as to the result.

After a short while, Physician Hua finished his examination, neither pleased nor troubled. He calmly produced a prescription and spoke gently, “I am not one to speak idly, so I shall tell the truth plainly. The lady’s pulse is deep, thin, and rapid; her hands and feet, as well as her heart, are feverish. She is thin and sallow, with signs of night sweats and chronic dry coughing. Such symptoms are not of recent onset—had she been treated early, a simple prescription would have sufficed. But now…”

At this, Yun Niang burst into tears, throwing herself into her mother’s arms. “Mother, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Is there truly no hope? Master Hua, please, save my aunt!” Gou Ye pleaded with a bow.

“Do not worry, young lady. I have not finished. Though your mother’s illness is somewhat severe, it is not yet beyond cure. I cannot promise a complete recovery, but I have a prescription that, taken daily, will ease her symptoms. It is an internal remedy, but also requires external assistance. I have devised a regimen of therapeutic exercises—if practiced diligently each morning, over time, her health will return.”

With that, Physician Hua calmly produced a small booklet from within his robe and handed it to Gou Ye. When Gou Ye saw the bold characters on the cover, he could not help but exclaim, “The Five Animal Frolics?!”

Was the Five Animal Frolics not created by Hua Tuo? How did Master Hua come by it? The differences of this world left Gou Ye puzzled, but at this moment, he was overjoyed. Turning to Yun Niang, he laughed heartily, “Yun Niang, there’s no need to worry now. With Master Hua here, Auntie will recover.”

Physician Hua, not understanding why Gou Ye was so delighted upon seeing the Five Animal Frolics, could only listen as Gou Ye addressed him with the utmost reverence, calling him a divine healer again and again. Yun Niang had never seen Gou Ye speak so highly of anyone before, but seeing his confidence, she was sure that this elderly man must indeed possess great skill. She believed Gou Ye’s words—that under this remarkable physician’s care, her mother would surely recover.